Bonn, 30.1.91

 

     The week commencing Dec. 29, '90 was a rather trying one. Put together 4 adults and 3 (undisciplined) kids (under 6!!); combine that with an `unlarge' apartment (with aspirations, however unreasonable, to elegance); add to the aforementioned the stress of speaking comprehensible French constantly, the necessity of providing palatable  ( the French being somewhat more demanding when it comes to things gastronomical ) meals (at least twice daily) for 7 hungry beings, the unpleasantness of deprivation of all privacy, and the total dependence of guests on hosts to provide any and all forms of diversion and entertainment, and you have the makings of a nightmare that even the most seasoned hostess ( which I am not ) would have trouble smiling through. Yes, we made it, but with the firm resolution never to entertain so much as the idea of a repetition of the same.

     Visitors having been waved off, the new year could begin in earnest. Jared was deposited with my parents in Brussels for eight days and I (we) could enjoy a bit of freedom for a change. Trendy movies were taken in, the services of several local restaurateurs were taken advantage of, and long-abandoned or never attempted sports ( skating and squash, resp.) were engaged in. But that was last week. This week it's back to the hectic demands of motherhood, wivery and studentship.

      December brought another visitor, this time from Canada, via Paris. Christian, a friend from the Canadian Friends of Finland group, called somewhat unexpectedly at the beginning of the month saying he was in Paris and would like to take the opportunity to see me. Excited that someone from my `Montreal past' should want to come up for a visit, I heartily invited him and then asked about his travel plans. "I'll arrive at 8pm on Friday and leave at noon on Saturday." "The next day?" "The next day." Something about a tight schedule. For someone I could hardly describe as being in my closest circle of friends, it would appear he really wanted to see me badly if he was going to take an over 12 hour train ride ( to and fro ) just to spend 8 or so waking hours in my company. The appointed day arrived. I was at the train station to meet him. His overly affectionate greeting ( and what later was a farewell bordering on the passionate ) confirmed my suspicions that the lad had what  I shall call "unresolved" feelings for me and simply had to satisfy his curiosity about who I married, where I live, how I live, etc. In Cord's presence, it was all we could do to produce monosyllabic replies in response to what we thought were provocative questions. Not entirely true. He did manage to retell remarkably incoherent excerpts from his research on the history of ideas: the exchange of ideas between Germany and France in the '30's. Research that was supposedly dazzling the pick of European historians. But then I'm no historian... Alone with Christian, I was subjected to disturbingly long stares, sudden openness interspersed with pregnant silences. Now what do you make of that?! Cord simply asked what the real purpose of the visit was (me, not Ch).

      The news is full of the Persian Gulf - the crisis that escalated into the war. Germans are being resolutely pacifist, whereas to judge from the broadcasts we receive here, it would seem the Brits and Americans are actually relishing the fact that they can finally justify their 10 digit defense budgets and play with, while displaying, their expensive toys to a world left breathless by the pace of events. $100 million/ Patriot - $10 million/SCUD. Yesterday's news reported the firing of 4 Pats to bring down a single SCUD ( how many more Pats were swallowed up by military censorship is anyone's guess ). Now it doesn't require high school mathematics to come to the conclusion  that   SOMEBODY

( and it looks like the wrong side ) is getting a RAW DEAL. Saddam Hussein is a madman, to be stopped at all costs, but for fear of losing face, this crisis is going to cost the Allies a lot of men, a lot of money and a lot of credibility. I'm waiting for it all to end so that we can hear the whole truth.  

     If all goes smoothly, I should get some serious lab work done in the next year or so and be able to produce a thesis at the end of '92, which should allow me to append "Dr." to my name. To complete the university registration procedure ( I was informed today ) I'm expected to sit a 3 hour German proficiency exam in April. I thought I could get away with my present knowledge, but the administration official who called today sowed some seeds of insecurity and I immediately signed up for a refresher course in grammar. Wish me luck!

     Jared is developing very fast. He can recognise `gramma' and `grampa' on the phone ( their voices ) and is increasing his vocabulary rapidly.

    

     So much for now. Happy New Year!!